News
from Alabama
Gambling
Plans Would Aid Schools - December 6, 2001
The
Birmingham Race Course and Alabama's three other dog tracks could
operate video gambling machines offering unlimited cash winnings,
under proposals filed in the Legislature Wednesday to help raise
money for public schools.
The
proposal filed by state Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, would
impose a $1,000 annual state fee and $500 annual county fee on
each video gambling machine at the tracks and at hundreds of gambling
parlors scattered statewide. Knight said the fee would raise $40
million to $50 million a year for public schools and colleges.
"This
is just another option for getting money for the Education Trust
Fund," Knight said. Unlimited cash winnings from gambling
machines would be allowed only at the four dog tracks.
Everywhere
else, the current per-play limit on winnings of a $5 token or
ticket redeemable for merchandise would remain in effect. Sen.
Hank Sanders, D-Selma, filed a gambling plan Wednesday that is
similar to Knight's bill.
Knight
and Sanders filed the bills on the second day of a special session
Gov. Don Siegelman called to raise an extra $160 million a year
for schools.
Gambling
opponents predicted lawmakers would kill the video gambling plans.
"Instead of taxing it, we need to shut it down," said
state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Pelham.
Lt.
Gov. Steve Windom said, "It's what we expected, trying to
legalize unlimited casinos at the tracks under the guise of helping
the schoolchildren." "What
they're really doing is turning the tracks into casinos. It's
immoral. It destroys Alabama families," he said.
Windom
added that a state judge hearing a case challenging the legality
of the video gambling machines soon could rule them illegal. "Any
revenue that would come in would be short-lived and would be subject
to a class-action lawsuit to give the money back," Windom
said. But Knight and other supporters said that as long as the
machines operate statewide, they should be taxed.
By
David White, News Staff Writer, Birmingham News, Montgomery, AL
